Copying attachment for typewriters



Aug. 4, 1959 B. L. HENRY' COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY ATTORNEXS.

Aug. 4, 1939 B. L. HENRY 2,397,944

COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 25, 1958 '5 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY Aug. 4, 1959 Y B. HENRY 2,897,944

COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet:5

IN V EN TOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY BY vvgaaly A TTOR/VEYS.

Aug. 4, 1959 B. L. HENRY COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ifrms'n I INVENTOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY o wd fi ma AZ'TOR/VEXS.

Aug. 9 B. HENRY 2,897,944

COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 25, 1958 r 5 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY United States Patent 2,897,944 COPYING ATTACHMENTFOR TYPEWRITERS Beulah Louise Henry, New'York, N.Y.

Application April 25, 1958, Serial No.- 731,039

16 Claims. Cl. 197-153 The present invention relates to typewriters andparticularly to an attachment for standard typewriters which enables themaking of copies withoutthe use of the commonly used carbon paper. Theattachment comprises a simple means for feeding additional ribbon orribbons between the sheets of paper which are to form the copies so thatany imprint on the first sheet is likewise caused to be printed uponadditional sheets, the number of which depends upon the number ofadditional ribbons used.

Devices of this general character have heretofore been devised, butthese devices were in the main complicated and did not satisfy all ofthe-requirements.

In the present invention the device is extremely simple and may bereadily attached to the standard typewriter of either the electricallyor manually operated type.

Additionally, this device, despite its simple nature, provides means forremoving the extra ribbons from the field of the type bars so that whena single copy is desired, as for example an envelope, no printing willoccur on the reverse thereof as would otherwise be the case.

It is an object of the invention to providean attachment for typewriterswhereby ribbons, in'addition to the usual single ribbon, are guidedbetween the sheets of paper which are to become copies in such .amannerthat printing occurs on the front and rear surfaces of alternate copysheets. For example, if two additional ribbons are utilized the firstcopy will bear the printed material on the rear surface thereofQthissheet being of course of onion skin or other material so that theprinting is readable from the front surface. The next copy sheet may beof any thickness and will bear the printing on the forward surfacethereof, it being obvious that the first auxiliary ribbon is fed betweenthe onion skin and the second copy. This will repeat for any additionalribbons so that the second additional ribbon will also produce twocopies, one on thin transparent paper and the other on paper of anydesired thickness. In brief, then, with two auxiliary ribbons theoriginal and four copies-can be produced; with three auxiliary ribbons,the original and six copies, etc.

It is another object of the invention to provide such an attachmentwhich has incorporated therein simple means for removing all of theadditional ribbons from the field of action so that a single copy may bemade without the necessity of utilizing and wasting a second sheet ofpaper to prevent printing on the rear surface of the original. This isespecially desirable when envelopes are to be addressed.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent when thefollowing description is considered in connection with the annexeddrawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of my invention inposition on a typewriter;

- Figure 2 is a similar view of thedevice of Figure 1 showing the partsin the position which they assume when the auxiliary ribbons are not inuse;

ice

Figure 3 is a similar perspective view showing a second embodiment of myinvention applied to a typewriter. In this embodiment of my inventionthe mechanism for moving. the auxiliary ribbon into and out of operatingposition is mounted on the platen carriage rather than on the typewriterproper as in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view schematically shown which illustrates thepath of the main and auxiliary ribbons and the position thereof withrespect to the typewriter platen when the attachment is that shown inFigures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the carriage shiftedto its extreme operated or left hand position;

Figure 6 is a view of the attachment of Figure 3 in top plan schematicform showing the position of the V the relative positions of the mainand auxiliary ribbons,

the sheets of paper and the type bar, when the auxiliary ribbons havebeen placed in operating position;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figures 8 and 9 illustrating the positionof the auxiliary ribbon-s with respect return and line feed mechanism onthe platen.

to the platen and main ribbon when the auxiliary ribbons are not in useand a single original is being produced as is the situation, forexample, when an envelope is addressed and no copy is desired;

Figure 11 is an enlarged front elevational view of the guiding means andthe operating means for the auxiliary ribbons; and

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a portion of the guide mechanismtogether with the operating mechanism shown in Figure 11. The portion ofthe mechanism included in this view is indicated by the line 1212 ofFigure 11.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1, 2, 4, 5and 8 through 12, there is shown therein a typewriter 20 illustrated asbeing of the type which is electrically driven, thus necessitating nocarriage The typewriter 20 is provided, of course, with the usualkeyboard 21, type bars generally designated 22, and ribbon feed andtakeup spools 23.

In accordance with my invention there is mounted on i the upper covermember of the typewriter a pair of brackets 24, the brackets beingmirror images of each other, one extending to the left and one to theright slightly beyond the point of platen maximum travel. Mounted at theends of these brackets 24 are uprights 25 which, as being seen inFigures 1, 2, 11 and 12, are square in cross section and tubular. Thesetubular members 25 are provided with slots in their side walls asindicated at 26.

Mounted in the tubular members 25 are slides 27 which consist of arod-like portion 28 to which is aflixed an outwardly extending handlesupport 30 and handle 31 and an inwardly extending arm 32 at the upperportion of'slide 27 and a second inwardly extending arm 33 at the lowerpart of the slide 27. Arm 32 has pivotally horizontally. Each of thearms 33a and 33b is formed with a portion 35 which extends upwardly,each of these upwardly extending portions being provided with abifurcated termination as indicated at 36.

Mounted 'on each of the brackets 24 inwardly of the tubular upright 25is a ribbon separating device 37, these devices being fixed in positionand comprising a generally rectangular upper portion and a generallynarrower rectangular lower portion joined by an inclined edge on theforward surface. The resilient arms 33a and 33b are provided with offsetends as indicated at 38 (Figure 12) which provides a tension in theauxiliary ribbons in a manner which will shortly be described.

Also mounted on the brackets 24 adjacent the innermost end thereof areadditional guide means for the auxiliary ribbons, these guide meanscomprising generally C-shaped members 40 which are pivotally connectedto upstanding posts 41 fixed to the corresponding bracket.

The auxiliary ribbons which have been mentioned heretofore aredesignated 42 and 43. These ribbons are interleaved with the main ribbondesignated 44 and wound on the spools 23 with that ribbon. In otherwords, the ends of the three ribbons are joined together and are thenwound on the usual ribbon spools of the typewriter. Ribbon 44 passesthrough the usual ribbon guides mounted on the typewriter body adjacentthe platen in a central position as indicated at 45. The auxiliaryribbons are threaded into the guiding and operating mechanism,heretofore described, in the following manner.

From the pay-off spool the ribbons pass to the guide 40, thence throughthe left hand guide member 34 at which point the ribbons divide, ribbon42 passing behind the separating device 37 and ribbon 43 in front ofthat device. Moreover, ribbon 42 is led through the bifurcatedtermination 36 of the arm 33b turning an abrupt corner as it passesthrough this bifurcation thus placing a frictional resistance on thetape. In a similar manner ribbon 43 passes through the bifurcatedtermination 36 of the arm 33a. From this point the ribbons extend acrossthe machine directly in front of the platen and in vertical alignmentwith the main ribbon 44. At the right hand end the threading follows thereverse order through the bifurcated terminations 36 of the right handdevice and thence through the right hand guides 34 and 40 to the take-upspool 23.

It will of course be understood that the pay-off and take-up spools 23perform these two functions interchangeably as in any typewriter, theribbons being fed from one spool to the other and then returned as thetypewriter is operated.

As has been indicated, the ribbon guides 34 and the guiding membersformed by the bifurcated guiding termi nations 36 can be moved into anupper position in which the ribbons 42 and 43 are out of action. This isdone merely by operating the handles 31 simultaneously to an upperposition, the slide members 27 being held in this upper position bymeans of the spring detent members 46 which, as best seen in Figure I,bear against the side of the sliders 27 to frictionally hold them intheir upper position.

Referring now to Figures 8 through 10, it will be seen that when thesliders 27 are in their upper position as just described, ribbons 42 and43 are separated, this separation being effected due to the fact thatthe rearmost ribbon 42 lies on the rear side of the separating devices37 while the forward ribbon 43 lies on the forward side of thesedevices, the separating devices being relatively wide at their upperedge as has previously been described. When in this position it istherefore easy to take the required ntunber of sheets and insert themabout the platen in the usual manner guiding them manually so that theylie on either side of the ribbons 42 and 43 I 47 is the usual firstsheet on which the original impression occurs, this being effected bymeans of the type bar 22 and the main ribbon 44. Next to the sheet 47there is placed a sheet of thin transparent paper such as onion skindesignated 48, this lying to the forward side of the ribbon 43. Next inorder is a sheet which may be of heavy paper 50 which lies immediatelybehind the ribbon 43. Following this there is a second sheet of thintransparent paper 51 which lies immediately in front of the ribbon 42and finally there is a sheet 52 which may be of any weight desired whichlies immediately behind the ribbon 42.

After the sheets have been manually guided in the position indicated inFigure 8, the handles 31 and sliders 27 are moved into their lowerposition, that is, to the position shown in Figure 1. By so doing theribbons are caused to assume the position shown in Figure 9 in whichribbons 42 and 43 are in vertical alignment with the main ribbon 44. Asa result of this arrangement any impression made by a type bar 22 on themain ribbon 44 resulting in printing on the first sheet 47 also causestransfer of ink from the ribbon 43 to the reverse side of thetransparent sheet 48 and the forward side of the sheet 50. Likewise thepressure and impact of the type bar on the sheets backed up by theplaten causes transfer of ink from ribbon 42 onto the rear surface ofthe transparent sheet 51 and onto the forward surfaceof the sheet 52.Thus for this arrangement the original and four carbon copies aresimultaneously produced.

It will be understood, of course, that additional copies may be producedby duplicating the guiding and separating means comprising thebifurcated termination guides 36 and the separators 37. If this is to bedone it may be desirable, instead of interleaving the additional tapes42 and 43, to clip additional spools onto the existing spools invertical alignment therewith and to provide additional guiding memberssimilar to members 40 for guiding these ribbons.

The foregoing description has considered that form of the attachment inwhich the tapes are guided and supported from the frame of the machineand in which the guiding'and supporting means are fixed in position. Asstated hereinabove in Figures 3, 6 and 7, a second embodiment of theinvention is shown wherein the guiding and separating members aremounted on the platen carriage and the portion of the ribbon extendingbetween the guides 40 moves with the platen carriage. In general, themechanism is similar and in many respects identical to that described inconnection with Figures 1 and 2. However, the tubular uprights 25,instead of being supported on brackets 24 which are in turn supportedfrom the upper framework or cover of the mechanism, are supported onbrackets 53 which are fixed to the typewriter platen carriage byremoving a screw 54 present in standard typewriter construction andslipping the brackets 53 into position beneath the screw when it isreplaced.

In the arrangement of Figure 3 a bracket 55 is fastened to thetypewriter cover at either side of the type basket, these bracketssupporting C-shaped guides substantially identical to the guides'40 andso designated. Additionally, brackets 55' supportadditional-C-shapedguides on rods 56 which extend outwardly of thebrackets 55 and are bentupwardlyinto substantial vertical alignment withthe main ribbon 44. The guides 57 are similar to guides 40 and arepivotally mounted at the ends of the bent up portion of rods 56.

As will be seenby reference to Figures 6 and 7, the ribbons 42 and43"pass through the guides 40 and 57 and thence to guides 34 whichguides 34 are identical to those previously described inconnection withFigures 1 and 2. When the guides 34 and'the separating members 37 aremounted in the manner just described in connection with Figure 3, theribbonsmove with the platen and not with respect thereto as in Figures 1and 2. This is clearly shown particularly in Figure 7 which shows theplaten 'moved from the central position in Figure 6 to its far left handposition.

In both embodiments of my invention the bifurcated terminations of theresilient. arms 33 and the mode in which the ribbons are threadedthrough the offset portions of these bifurcated terminations of thesearms pro vide frictional engagement with the ribbons so that the ribbonsbecome stretched throughout the length in which they lie between thepaper sheets, thus assuring that they maintain their position parallelto the sheets in the substantially vertical plane so that there will beno tendency for the ribbons to be caught by and move with the papereither in its line feeding or letter spacing movement.

Moreover, the separators 37 act as guides for the bifurcatedterminations of arms 33 as they are moved upwardly, and the distancebetween corresponding bifurcated arms at opposite sides of thetypewriter remains the same despite the fact that the ribbons areseparated. As a result, slack which, in the absence of the drag providedby the bifurcated terminations of arms 33, would appear in the reach ofthe ribbons extending from the left hand arm 33 to the right hand arm 33appears only in the ribbon extending from these arms back to the ribbonspools. Therefore when the ribbons have been elevated and are againplaced in their normal operating position no slack is introduced intothe portion thereof which extends between the sheets of paper. This, ofcourse, is a very desirable result since, were there to be slack in theribbons in the area between the sheets, it would be difficult toproperly lower the ribbons into their operating position and when solowered, likelihood of smudging would be relatively great.

The mounting of the guiding and separating means as heretofore describedalso serves to provide for typing upon a single sheet using the mainribbon only without imprinting the rear of that sheet as is essential inmany operations, such for example as the addressing of envelopes. Thismode of operation is clearly indicated in Figure 10 wherein the ribbons42 and 43 are shown in their upper position, the single original sheet47 having been inserted about the platen in the usual manner but fed-tothe rear of the ribbon 42 instead of to the front thereof as in Figure8. The result, of course, is that the ribbons 42 and 43 are out ofaction and printing occurs only by contact of the ribbon 44 with theforward side of the sheet 47.

I am aware of the fact that prior inventors have attempted to producecopies by the use of auxiliary ribbons and that mechanisms generallysimilar to that described herein have been disclosed. In no instance ofwhich I am aware, however, has a means been provided for keeping theribbons taut in the areas between the paper sheets nor has any meansbeen provided for separating the ribbons so that the sheets may bereadily threaded therethrough or for elevating the auxiliary ribbons toplace them out of action to provide for typing on a single sheet only.These features of my invention render it a practical and useful devicewhereas the prior arrangements have been impractical and have not, to myknowledge been of commercial value.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will beunderstood that I wish to be limited not by the foregoing description,but solely by the claims granted to me.

What is claimed it:

1. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and aninked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints onpaper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool,said attachment comprising, means for guiding at least one auxiliaryribbon to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen invertical alignment with the regular ribbon, a portion of said auxiliaryribbon extending along the entire axial length of the platen in allpositions thereof, and means for maintaining said ribbon portion undertension, said tensioning means comprising vertically extendingbifurcated members located adjacent the platen at opposite sides of saidribbon portion, each said bifurcated member having one arm offset fromthe other providing a sharp bend in said ribbon about said bifurcationsto place a frictional drag on the said portion of said auxiliary ribbon.

2. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and aninked ribbon adapted tocooperate with type bars to cause imprints onpaper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool,said attachment comprising, means for guiding a plurality of auxiliaryribbons to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen invertical alignment with the regular ribbon, portions of said auxiliaryribbons extending along the entire axial length of the platen in allpositions thereof, and means for maintaining said ribbons under tensionthroughout the said portions, said tensioning means comprisingvertically extending bifurcated members located adjacent the platen atopposite sides of the typewriter, each said bifurcated member having onearm offset from the other providing a sharp bend in said ribbons aboutsaid bifurcations to place a frictional drag on the said auxiliaryribbons.

3. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and aninked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints onpaper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool,said attachment comprising, means for guiding a plurality of auxiliaryribbons to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen invertical alignment with the regular ribbon, portions of said auxiliaryribbons extending along the entire axial length of the platen in allpositions thereof, means for maintaining said ribbon portions undertension, means for moving the said portions of said auxiliary ribbonsout of vertical alignment with the regular ribbon, and means forincreasing the separation between said ribbons of said plurality as saidribbons are moved out of alignment with the regular ribbon.

4. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and aninked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints onpaper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool,said attachment comprising, means for guiding a plurality of auxiliaryribbons to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen invertical alignment with the regular ribbon, portions of said auxiliaryribbons extending along the entire axial length of the platen in allpositions thereof, means for maintaining said ribbons under tensionthroughout said portions and means for moving the said portions of saidauxiliary ribbons out of vertical alignment with the regular ribbon,said moving means comprising vertically extending supports, meansmounting said guiding means for vertical reciprocatory movement in saidsupports, and means for moving said mounting means in said supports, andmeans for increasing the separation between said ribbons of saidplurality as said guiding means are moved vertically upwards in saidsupports, said separation increasing means comprising plate-like memberssupported between said ribbons inwardly of said vertically extendingsupports, said members having a narrow generally rectangularsection anda wider generally rectangular section joined by a sloping surface, theplane of said members being perpendicular to the planes of said ribbons.

5. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to the frame, and aninked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause imprints onpaper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to a takeup spool,said attachment comprising, means for guiding a plurality of auxiliaryribbons to a position between the regular inked ribbon and the platen invertical alignment with the regular ribbon, portions of said auxiliaryribbons extending along the entire axial length of the platen in allpositions thereof, means for maintaining said ribbon portions undertension, means for moving the said portion of said auxiliary ribbonscoextensive with the axial length of the platen out of verticalalignment with the regular ribbon, said moving means comprisingvertically extending supports, means mounting said guiding means forvertical reciprocatory movement in said supports, and means for movingsaid mounting means in said supports, means for increasing theseparation between said ribbons of said plurality as said guiding meansare moved vertically upwards in said supports, said separationincreasing means comprising plate-like members supported between saidribbons inwardly of said vertically extending supports, said membershaving a narrow generally rectangular section and a wider generallyrectangular section joined by a sloping surface, the plane of saidmembers being perpendicular to the planes of said ribbons, andadditional guiding means supported on the typewriter inwardly of saidsupports, said additional guiding means serving to guide ribbonsinterleaved with the regular ribbon from the payoff to the takeup spoolthrough first guiding means and said tensioning means.

6. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to cause'unprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payolf spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at eachside of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen andextending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbonguide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbonsfed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbonsextending through said guides and passing between the regular inkedribbon and the platen, and means mounted adjacent each said supportmeans and laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of saidpair.

7. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at eachside of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen andextending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbonguide mounted on each side support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbonsfed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbonsextending through said guides and passing between the regular inkedribbon and the platen, means mounted adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair,and means mounted on each said support means for guiding said tworibbons individually, each said guiding means including means forplacing a frictional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure thatsaid ribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inkedribbon and will extend in front of the platen in all positions thereof.

8. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at eachside of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen andextending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbonguide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbonsfed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbonsextending through said guides and passing between the regular inkedribbon and the platen, means mounted adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair,and means for movably mounting said ribbon guides on said support meansfor vertical movement with respect thereto to thereby move saidauxiliary ribbons out of their position in vertical alignment with saidregular inking ribbon.

9. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at eachside of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen andextending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbonguide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbonsfed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbonsextending through said guides and passing between the regular inkedribbon and the platen, means mounted adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair,means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbonsindividually, each said guiding means including means for placing africtional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that saidribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inkedribbon and will extend in front of the platen in all positions thereof,and means for movably mounting said first mentioned ribbon guides andsaid individual ribbon guides on' said support means for verticalmovement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons outof their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon.

10. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising, support means mounted at eachside of the typewriter on a fixed part thereof adjacent the platen andextending laterally beyond the path of movement of the platen, a ribbonguide mounted on each said support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbonsfed in unison with the regular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbonsextending through said guides and passing between the regular inkedribbon and the platen, means mounted adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair,means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbonsindividually, each said guiding means including means for placing africtional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that saidribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inkedribbon and will extend in front of the platen in all positions thereof,means for mounting said ribbon guides on said support means for verticalmovement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons outof their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon,and means forming part of said separating means for increasing theseparation between said pair of auxiliary ribbons as said ribbon guidesare moved upwardly on said support means.

11. An attachment in accordance with claim 10 wherein said support meanscomprises rectangular tubular members extending vertically with respectto the typewriter and wherein said means for movably mounting saidribbon guides comprises slide elements mounted Within said tubularmembers, said guide mounting means including handles fixed to said slideelements for manually moving said guides and the ribbons.

12. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoif spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising support means fixed to theplaten carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on eachsaid support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with theregular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through saidguides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen, andmeans mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair.

13. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising support means fixed to theplaten carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on eachsaid support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with theregular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through saidguides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen,means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair,and means mounted on each said support means for guiding said tworibbons individually, each said guiding means including means forplacing a frictional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure thatsaid ribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inkedribbon.

14. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising support means fixed to theplaten carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on eachsaid support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with theregular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through saidguides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen,means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair,and means for mounting said ribbon guides on said support means forvertical movement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliaryribbons out of their position in vertical alignment with said regularinking ribbon.

15. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type 'bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to atakeup spool, said attachment comprising support means fixed to theplaten carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on eachsaid support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with theregular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through saidguides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen,means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair,means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbonsindividually, each said guiding means including means for placing africtional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that saidribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inkedribbon, and means for mounting said first mentioned ribbon guides andsaid individual ribbon guides on said support means for verticalmovement with respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons outof their position in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon.

16. An attachment for a typewriter having a frame, a platen carriagemounted for lateral letter spacing movement with respect to the frameand an inked ribbon adapted to cooperate with type bars to causeimprints on paper about the platen and fed from a payoff spool to atakeup spool, said attachment: comprising support means fixed to theplaten carriage at each side thereof, a ribbon guide mounted on eachsaid support means, a pair of auxiliary ribbons fed in unison with theregular inked ribbon, said auxiliary ribbons extending through saidguides and passing between the regular inked ribbon and the platen,means mounted on said platen carriage adjacent each said support meansand laterally inwardly thereof for separating the ribbons of said pair,means mounted on each said support means for guiding said two ribbonsindividually, each said guiding means including means for placing africtional resistance on said ribbons to thereby assure that saidribbons will be taut and parallel to the plane of the regular inkedribbon, means for mounting said first mentioned ribbon guides and saidindividual ribbon guides on said support means for vertical movementwith respect thereto to thereby move said auxiliary ribbons out of theirposition in vertical alignment with said regular inking ribbon, andmeans forming part of said separating means for increasing theseparation between said pair of auxiliary ribbons as said ribbon guidesare moved upwardly on said support means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,741,664 Smith Dec. 31, 1929 2,069,492 Henry Feb. 2, 1937 2,103,734Schmidt Dec. 28, 1937 2,195,464 Loewenstein Apr. 2, 1940

